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This study aimed at evaluating the relationships among pathologies and methods employed to detect transglutaminase (tTG) and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in 33 celiac subjects presenting either high or low levels of tTG. Elevated tTG values were associated with increased CDT levels. A significant correlation was found between CDT and tTG values (r=0.57; p>0.0001). In the absence of wider studies and assessments on the interferences between methods used for these dosages and in presence of pathologies as carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome (CDGs), this account assumes a possible correlation with celiac disease and suggests that the CDT test should not be used in celiac patients to authorize the return of the driving license after its withdrawal due to alcohol abuse [1, 2, 3].

Evaluation of heart rate variability (HRV) is based on analysis of consecutive R-R intervals and may provide quantitative information on the modulation of cardiac vagal and sympathetic efferent activities. In particular, power spectral analysis as well as the fractal dimension of HRV represent non-invasive measures that reflect brain-heart interaction in different physiopathological conditions. This study was performed to investigate the relationship between autonomic nervous cardiac influence and three phases (menses, follicular phase and luteal phase) of the menstrual cycle. Heart rate (HR) was recorded in 6 eumenorrheic young females, continuously for 20 min, at rest. From the tachograms, fractal dimension, FFT spectra and beta coefficient were evaluated. The components of two spectral bands were calculated: 0.040 Hz - 0.150 Hz (low frequency, LF), and 0.150 Hz - 0.80 Hz (high frequency, HF). The results indicate no correlation between HR and follicular as well as luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Total power and HF spectral component increase, whereas LF spectral component decreases in the luteal phase compared to the follicular one. The fractal dimension does not show significant differences among the three phases. Beta coefficient decreases during luteal phase in respect of follicular one and menses. In conclusion, these results indicate in healthy young women a correlation between female sex hormones (17 beta-oestradiol, progesterone and pituitary gonadotrophins) concentrations and some HRV parameters with higher HR variability during the luteal phase.

Aim: The tissue-Trans-Glutaminase (t-TG) has been reported to be the target for endomysial antibodies in coeliac disease. Coeliac disease if untreated, although clinically silent, predispose for other autoimmune disease, large scale screening methods are needed for an early diagnosis. The recently introduced ELISA methods to detect tTG antibodies, that used as antigen Guinea Pig tissue transglutaminase provide an efficient alternative to the anti-endomysial (EMA) immunofluorescent method and are suitable for screening. Our aim was to compare the commercial kit utilizing tTG from guinea pig (GP-tTG) to the standard method that we developed in our laboratory and with the new method that employed human recombinant tTG (hr-tTG)., Methods: We tested serum samples from 16 untreated celiac patients, 10 coeliac patients in gluten free diet, 22 subjects with other disease and 32 healthy controls, for a total number of 80 sera, with 3 commercial kit which employed GP-tTG and 1 that employed hr-tTG, as reference method we used an ELISA method developed in our laboratory and the immunofluorescence method to detect EMA., Results: Results show that methods employing human tTG had a sensibility of 100% with a specificity of 98% and a predictive value of 94%, instead methods employing GP-tTG show inferior results. CONCLUSION. We conclude that is better using hr-tTG as antigen in screening methods for coeliac disease.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the tolerability and effectiveness of a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell infusion for the treatment of severe autoimmune diseases., Design and Methods: From 1996 patients with severe autoimmune disease not responsive to conventional immunosuppressive treatment were selected. The patients' blood or marrow cells were harvested after incubation with vincristine and methylprednisolone. Two different immunoablative conditioning regimens were employed. The first used cyclophosphamide (2500 mg/m2 in one day) and antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) (15 vials/m2 in three days) and the second used fludarabine (300 mg/m2 in two courses of 5 days) plus ALG (25 vials/m2 in 5 days)., Results: Nineteen patients (14 female, 5 male) with severe autoimmune diseases were treated. Nine had a rheumatologic disorder (5 juvenile chronic arthritis, 1 rheumatoid arthritis, 1 systemic vasculitis, 1 Sjögren's syndrome, 1 Behçt's disease), 4 a neurologic disorder (3 multiple sclerosis, 1 myasthenia), 3 a haematologic disease (2 pure red cell aplasia, 1 autoimmune thrombocytopenia), 2 had a gastrointestinal disease (1 Crohn's disease, 1 autoimmune enteropathy) and 1 had a multiple autoimmune disorder. There was no regimen-related toxicity and no opportunistic infections occurred. Ninety percent of the patients improved and/or had a complete remission after the procedure. Fifty percent of the subjects went into complete or partial remission after a median follow-up of 15 months (range 3-25) while 50% relapsed after a median follow-up of 11 months, (range 6-16). The incidence of relapse in the group treated with fludarabine was lower (30%)., Interpretation and Conclusions: A non-myeloablative conditioning regimen was able to induce persistent remission in some patients with severe autoimmune diseases. There was no mortality or morbidity related to the procedure. The extent of remission does, however, remain to be established.

The same ex vivo marrow's treatment that we used in mismatched BMT (incubation with vincristine and methylprednisolone) was used in two patients with chronic GVHD and in one patient with PRCA. The conditioning regimen with cyclophosphamide and ALG was aimed to kill only the patient's lymphocytes, and did not cause a deep myeloid aplasia. The patients achieved a clear improvement of their symptoms.

Experience with the collection of autologous blood during the last part of pregnancy in 57 women is reported. The authors confirm the safety of the autologous transfusion program but come to the conclusion that, with current entrance criteria, the cost-benefit ratio seems unfavourable. Therefore they suggest: a) the sole involvement of women with real potential hemorrhagic complications (placenta previa, multiple pregnancy); b) the collection, when possible, of at least 2 units of autologous blood.

The increments in serum concentrations of unconjugated bilirubin and free fatty acids (FFA) were measured 24 and 48 h after reduction of the caloric intake (400 cal/day) in 17 patients with Gilbert's syndrome (GS) and in 12 healthy control subjects. In males, both normal and with GS, the rise in serum bilirubin was statistically higher (p less than 0.01) as compared to females. On the contrary, no sex difference was found in FFA concentrations. A linear correlation (p less than 0.01) between bilirubin and FFA serum levels was present in normal males and in patients with Gilbert's syndrome of both sexes. Because bilirubin and FFA partly share a common, bilitranslocase-mediated, hepatic uptake mechanism, data reported support the hypothesis that a bilitranslocase function may be one of the metabolic defects in Gilbert's syndrome.

The computer's use permits an easy evaluation and a fast revision for urinalysis too. In the present experience, we report a study about the comparison among computerized data, the clinical requirement and the quality of urinalysis, sent to the laboratory of the Children's Hospital "Burlo Garofolo" of Trieste (Italy).

The authors describe the application of a technique called Patient Flow Analysis aimed at the improvement of Clinic Personnel efficiency and reduction of patient waiting time. Results were satisfactory and encourage further experiences.